Who Will Be Bihar’s Next CM As Nitish Kumar Heads to Rajya Sabha? BJP Mulls 4 Names | Exclusive

Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 14:42 IST

Within the Bharatiya Janata Party's Bihar unit and the wider RSS ecosystem, at least four names are being discussed as potential chief ministerial contenders

With Nitish Kumar’s resignation as Bihar’s chief minister and shift to the Rajya Sabha, the familiar churn in Patna’s power corridors has restarted.

Within the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bihar unit and the wider RSS ecosystem, at least four names are being discussed as potential chief ministerial contenders, each representing a different political strength, constituency, and equation with both Delhi and alliance partners, especially with Kumar and his party, the Janata Dal (United).

A source in the BJP told News 18, “Four names have been shortlisted, the final call will be taken by the party top brass. The party wants a leader who will run the government maintaining a balance among all NDA partners."

The current situation has brought the spotlight back on the BJP’s internal calculations and the possible faces it may project as the chief minister’s post when the party decides to stake claim to the top post.

One of the prominent names in circulation is Samrat Choudhary, the state’s deputy chief minister. A combative OBC leader who has been spearheading the party’s aggressive campaign against the Mahagathbandhan government, Choudhary is believed to have enjoyed the confidence of the central leadership and has emerged as one of the most visible BJP faces in the state. However, some within the party believe his sharp political style may not always align with the delicate balancing required to manage the JD(U) and Nitish Kumar within an alliance framework.

Another name frequently mentioned is union minister Nityanand Rai, a long-time BJP organisational worker with deep roots in the party structure. Rai is seen as someone who maintains close links with grassroots BJP workers as well as with the party’s central leadership in Delhi. His organisational background and relatively low-profile political style are viewed by some senior party functionaries and insiders as advantages, particularly in maintaining coordination between the state unit and the party’s national leadership. However, in a state like Bihar where every calculation is dominated by caste, a Yadav option may not work for the party now, said another section of leaders.

West Champaran MP and former state BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal is also being talked about as the third option in political circles. Jaiswal is known for his articulate defence of the party line and his experience in both organisation and Parliament, Jaiswal is considered a leader with administrative understanding and political experience. Yet, like others, the key question remains whether he would be able to navigate the complexities of an alliance government where Nitish Kumar’s JDU remains a dominant partner.

The fourth name that surfaces is Vijay Sinha, currently one of the BJP’s prominent leaders in the state and a former Speaker of the Bihar Assembly. Sinha has built a reputation as an assertive leader within the state unit and enjoys support among sections of the party cadre.

For the BJP leadership, however, the calculation goes beyond individual popularity. The larger question is whether any potential face would be able to manage the delicate political equation with Nitish Kumar and alliance partners including Chirag Paswan’s LJP while keeping the BJP’s organisational base satisfied.

As Bihar once again enters a phase of political uncertainty, the decision on leadership will likely be shaped not just by numbers in the assembly, but by the BJP’s long-term strategy in a state that remains central to its national political calculus.

News politics Who Will Be Bihar’s Next CM As Nitish Kumar Heads to Rajya Sabha? BJP Mulls 4 Names | Exclusive

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